Full Color, Inkjet-Printable, Self-Laminating Label

Abstract

An inkjet-printable, self-laminating wire marker comprising: A. A transparent substrate layer having top and bottom facial surfaces; B. A topcoat layer having top and bottom facial surfaces with the bottom facial surface of the topcoat layer in direct contact with at least a part but not all of the top facial surface of the substrate layer; C. A transparent adhesive layer having top and bottom facial surfaces with the top facial surface of the adhesive layer in direct contact with the bottom facial surface of the substrate layer. In one embodiment an opaque white primer layer having top and bottom facial surfaces is interposed between the substrate and topcoat layers such that the bottom facial surface of the primer layer is in direct contact with the top facial surface of the substrate layer and the top facial surface of the primer layer is in direct contact with the bottom facial surface of the topcoat.

1 . An inkjet-printable, self-laminating label comprising:
 A. A translucent or transparent substrate layer having top and bottom facial surfaces;   B. A topcoat layer having top and bottom facial surfaces with the bottom facial surface of the topcoat layer in direct contact with at least a part but not all of the top facial surface of the substrate layer, the top coat layer of a coating weight of at least 12 g/m 2  and comprising (1) pigment particles having (a) a number average particle size of 1 to 25 microns (μm), and (b) at least one of (i) an oil absorption value of at least 150 grams per 100 grams of particles (g/100 g), and (ii) a pore volume of at least 1.2 cubic centimeters per grain (cm 3 /g), and (2) water-insoluble binder resin having a surface energy greater than 42 dyne per centimeter (dyne/cm), the pigment particles and binder resin present at a weight ratio of at least 0.6; and   C. A translucent or transparent adhesive layer having top and bottom facial surfaces with the top facial surface of the adhesive layer in direct contact with the bottom facial surface of the substrate layer; and   D. An optional release liner having top and bottom facial surfaces with the top facial surface of the optional release liner in direct contact with the bottom facial surface of the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         2 . The label of  claim 1  in which the substrate layer is transparent and comprises polyolefin, polyester, PVC, polyamide, polyether or polyimide. 
     
     
         3 . The label of  claim 2  in which the topcoat layer comprises silica particles. 
     
     
         4 . The label of  claim 3  in which the binder resin is crosslinked. 
     
     
         5 . The label of  claim 4  in which the binder resin is alcohol soluble. 
     
     
         6 . The label of  claim 5  in which the binder resin is a polyamide. 
     
     
         7 . The label of  claim 1  in which the binder resin is a dispersion of a non-cationic, water-insoluble nylon terpolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The label of  claim 1  in which the adhesive layer comprises at least one of a waterborne acrylic, solvent-borne acrylic, epoxy, silicone, natural or synthetic rubber or a rubber-acrylic hybrid. 
     
     
         9 . The label of  claim 1  attached to a wire, cable or pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The label of  claim 1  in which the surface energy of the binder resin is at least 44 dyne/cm. 
     
     
         11 . An inkjet-printable, self-laminating label comprising:
 A. A translucent or transparent substrate layer having top and bottom facial surfaces;   B. An opaque white primer layer having top and bottom facial surfaces with the bottom facial surface of the primer layer in direct contact with at least a part but not all of the top facial surface of the substrate layer;   C. A topcoat layer having top and bottom facial surfaces with the bottom facial surface of the topcoat layer in direct contact with the top facial surface of the substrate layer, the topcoat layer of a coating weight of at least 12 g/m 2  and comprising (1) pigment particles having (a) a number average particle size of 1 to 25 microns (μm), and (b) at least one of (i) an oil absorption value of at least 150 grams per 100 grams of particles (g/100 g), and (ii) a pore volume of at least 1.2 cubic centimeters per gram (cm 3 /g), and (2) water-insoluble binder resin having a surface energy greater than 42 dyne per centimeter (dyne/cm), the pigment particles and binder resin present at a weight ratio of at least 0.6; and   D. A translucent or transparent adhesive layer having top and bottom facial surfaces with the top facial surface of the adhesive layer in direct contact with the bottom facial surface of the substrate layer; and   E. An optional release liner having top and bottom facial surfaces with the top facial surface of the optional release liner in direct contact with the bottom facial surface of the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         12 . The label of  claim 11  in which the substrate layer is transparent and comprises polyolefin, polyester, PVC, polyamide, polyether or polyimide. 
     
     
         13 . The label of  claim 12  in which the topcoat layer comprises silica particles. 
     
     
         14 . The label of  claim 13  in which the binder resin is crosslinked. 
     
     
         15 . The label of  claim 14  in which the binder resin is alcohol soluble. 
     
     
         16 . The label of  claim 15  in which the binder resin is a polyamide. 
     
     
         17 . The label of  claim 11  in which the binder resin is a dispersion of a non cationic, water-insoluble nylon terpolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The label of  claim 11  in which the adhesive layer comprises at least one of a waterborne acrylic, solvent-borne acrylic, epoxy, silicone, natural or synthetic rubber or a rubber-acrylic hybrid. 
     
     
         19 . The label of  claim 11  attached to a wire, cable or pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The label of  claim 11  in which the surface energy of the binder resin is at least 44 dyne/cm.